Her mom and I locked eyes and I could see she knew it too. She had a look of desperation and pain that I can only think a mom could ever get.
Abby missed our wordless exchange and kept talking. "I'll just be in here a couple more days. I'm finishing the program. I'll be Fine."
I'd never claim to be an expert on women, but I flinched when she used the "F-word."
I looked back to her mom. "How long are you going to be here?"
"A week. I can't stay out of work much longer than that. I used almost all my leave last year when her father got sick." She looked like she was about to break down. Losing her husband had obviously been hard on her, and now this.
"Jennifer said she'll stay with her. Vince or I will sleep on her couch if Jennifer is away."
Abby started to object, but I put on my "bo
